thing
going once。 Is it on again？〃 Quietly； she said； 〃I never talked about 'a
thing' with Ross。 I said I knew him and that whatever might have been
between us was over。 Don't read something into it that isn't there。〃
〃You make a nice pair。〃
〃It's not your affair。〃
Lee backed off。 〃You're right。 It's not。 If I had any sense I'd marry
you myself。〃
Chloe was suddenly cross。 〃I wouldn't say yes to you； either！〃
〃So he did ask you。〃 Her partner smiled。 〃Fast worker； that one。〃
Unable to e up with a suitably indignant retort； she stood up with
her mug and made to flee to her office。
〃What about breakfast？〃 Lee's voice trailed after her。
〃I'm not hungry！〃
〃You shouldn't work on an empty stomach。〃 Ross had said the same thing
Saturday。
〃I'll live！〃 she shouted over her shoulder and closed the office door。
The telephone jangled； a merciful reminder of the workday ahead。 It was
Alabama。 Had she made a decision on handling the study for the citizens'
group in Mobile？ No。 She hadn't even thought about it once during the
weekend。 It would mean a week on location taking samples of Gulf water
and testing the ocean floor position。 It was a potentially
fascinating project； since the toxic waste burning plan was so new。
〃Yes； Ms。 Farwell。 I'll take the job。 What's the exact status of the
waste burning now？〃
A gentle voic